Dubai Harbour or Palm Jebel Ali?
Side by side on published prices, yields, new developments and drive times.
Pictured: DAMAC Bay by Cavalli by DAMAC Properties
Where each one leads
Drawn only from published figures and the developments we list, each with its source.
Lower price per sq ft
Palm Jebel Ali averages AED 3,409 per sq ft against AED 4,066 in Dubai Harbour, about 16% less (Property Finder, from registered transactions, 12 months to 12 November 2026).
Closer to Dubai Marina
Dubai Harbour is about 10 minutes from Dubai Marina by car, against about 25 minutes from Palm Jebel Ali.
Side by side
| Measure | Dubai Harbour | Palm Jebel Ali |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Tenure | Freehold | Freehold |
| Price per sq ft | AED 4,066Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 741 sales | AED 3,409Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 718 sales |
| Developments we list | 6 | 0 |
| Drive to Dubai Marina | about 10 minutes | about 25 minutes |
| Drive to Palm Jumeirah | about 10 minutes | about 27 minutes |
Each figure is shown as its publisher states it, with the period it covers. A row appears only where both areas have a figure. Property Finder’s figures are averages across home types, so they mix studios and large homes. Read 12 November 2026.
New developments in each
Dubai Harbour
- Bayview by Address ResortsEmaar PropertiesAED 3,300,888
- Dubai Harbour ResidencesH&H DevelopmentAED 3,900,000
- DAMAC Bay by CavalliDAMAC PropertiesAED 3,939,000
- DAMAC Bay 2 by CavalliDAMAC PropertiesAED 8,886,000
- Beach MansionEmaar PropertiesAED 9,513,888
- SeaHaven Sky EditionSobha RealtyAED 21,132,340
Palm Jebel Ali
We do not list a development in Palm Jebel Ali yet.
What each area is like
Dubai Harbour
A yacht-marina and cruise-terminal district on reclaimed land between Palm Jumeirah and Bluewaters, with Emaar Beachfront at its centre and several high-priced towers under construction.
Who it suits
- Second-home buyers wanting sea and marina views
- Yacht owners
- Buyers of branded residences
- Investors in prime short-let stock
In its favour
- Sea-front position between Palm Jumeirah and Bluewaters, next to Dubai Marina
- Large yacht marina and two cruise terminals
- Emaar Beachfront's completed towers show what the finished district looks like
Worth weighing
- At least eight projects are scheduled to complete between 2027 and the end of 2029, most of them large apartment towers aimed at the same buyer.
- High entry prices: the lowest launch price among projects with developer stock on Property Finder in November 2026 was AED 3.7 million.
Palm Jebel Ali
Nakheel's second palm island, off Jebel Ali in south-west Dubai. Relaunched in 2023 and still a construction site, with first villa handovers due to begin in late 2026.
Who it suits
- Long-horizon buyers
- Villa buyers priced out of Palm Jumeirah
- Buyers betting on the Al Maktoum airport corridor
In its favour
- Beachfront villa plots on 16 fronds, a product that is no longer available new on Palm Jumeirah
- Single master developer (Nakheel, part of Dubai Holding) controlling the whole island
- Construction contracts awarded for more than 1,260 villas across 2024 and 2026
Worth weighing
- No one lives here yet. First villa handovers were due to begin in late 2026 and apartments are scheduled for 2029 and 2030, so buyers face years of construction around them.
- The project stalled for 15 years after 2008. The relaunch is well funded, but the history is a reminder that island master plans take longer than brochures suggest.
Dubai Harbour or Palm Jebel Ali: quick answers
Is Dubai Harbour or Palm Jebel Ali cheaper per square foot?
Palm Jebel Ali is cheaper on the published figures: AED 3,409 per sq ft against AED 4,066 in Dubai Harbour (Property Finder, from registered transactions, 12 months to 12 November 2026). Averages move with the mix of homes sold, so compare like with like before relying on the gap.
Which is closer to Dubai Marina, Dubai Harbour or Palm Jebel Ali?
Dubai Harbour, at about 10 minutes by car against about 25 minutes from Palm Jebel Ali. Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic.
Which is closer to Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Harbour or Palm Jebel Ali?
Dubai Harbour, at about 10 minutes by car against about 27 minutes from Palm Jebel Ali. Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic.
Can foreigners buy property in Dubai Harbour and Palm Jebel Ali?
Dubai Harbour is a designated freehold area, open to buyers of any nationality. Palm Jebel Ali is a designated freehold area, open to buyers of any nationality. Sales in Dubai are registered with the DLD.
Which new developments can I buy in Dubai Harbour and Palm Jebel Ali?
In Dubai Harbour: Bayview by Address Resorts from AED 3,300,888, Dubai Harbour Residences from AED 3,900,000, DAMAC Bay by Cavalli from AED 3,939,000 and DAMAC Bay 2 by Cavalli from AED 8,886,000. We do not list a development in Palm Jebel Ali yet.
More area comparisons
- Dubai Harbour vs Jumeirah Lake Towers
- Dubai Harbour vs Palm Jumeirah
- Dubai Harbour vs Dubai Marina
- Downtown Dubai vs Dubai Harbour
- Dubai Harbour vs Dubai Maritime City
- Dubai Harbour vs Nad Al Sheba
- Downtown Jebel Ali vs Palm Jebel Ali
- Expo City Dubai vs Palm Jebel Ali
- Palm Jebel Ali vs Palm Jumeirah
- Palm Jebel Ali vs Wasl Gate
Not sure which area fits?
Tell us your budget, your timing and whether you will live there or let it, and we will set the two areas against each other for you.
- Current price list and availability, direct from the developer
- No fee to you on off-plan purchases: the developer pays us
- One salaried adviser, not on commission, from first call to handover
